Hello from the Portofino!!!

[damo]

I am here in the CLUB room sending you this message. We are staying tonight in our portofino suite and then moving for the next six nights in a villa suite. I tell you, this place treats you like royalty!!! We got upgraded to both club and villa suite. Unbelievable!

Everything has been great so far. The weather is beautiful. We toured both parks a little and did citywalk for a bit. We are all just tired and after our little bit of dessert here, we are off to bed.

I'll let everyone know how the villa suite is tomorrow. The portofino suite would have been plenty big enough. The bathrooms themselves are HUGE!!!

Anyways, I will update tomorrow. Let me know if there are any questions!

 

[lindalinda]

OMG! Did you flash them or something? I want to be platinum too! I am so jealous.

 

[calgarygary]

They upgraded both club status and a villa suite! I can't believe I just told them to add club status to my ressie. We'll expect lots of pictures.

 

[bubba's mom]

you made it!!!! Yay you!! Sounds like your trip is off to an AWESOME start!!! Better get some rest....you have a LOT of pix to take tomorrow....... (don't forget to get pix of new NASCAR joint!)






(oh, and sounds like you don't need your toque......)

 

[srsmom1]

That's awesome you got upgraded!! We arrive at the HRH tomorrow, but will be in a regular room, booked through a travel site. How were the crowds?

 

[robvia]

Yes, the bathroom at the PBH is huge, which is why I recommend it over the others. Someone could sleep in there on an air matress if needed. Just that people wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but it could be done.

Try the walking path to the park early in the morning.

Glad you got off to a great start. I always expect a few bumps along the way and ignore the little stuff that may go wrong.

Don't forget to go to lunch at 11:30am and dinner around 6pm to avoid the large crowds.

 

[Melisa1]

Sounds like you are off to a great start! I can't wait to hear more and see pics!

 

[bubba's mom]

Yes, the bathroom at the PBH is huge, which is why I recommend it over the others. Someone could sleep in there on an air matress if needed. Just that people wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but it could be done.

damo...on your travels, IF you ride Dudley, can you take a pic of the seat before you get in?? There is someone (actually a 2 page thread now) wondering if it's "safe" for her DD9....there seems to be some confusion/discussion over what the seats look like (bench vs. individual...and how MANY individual.....) Thanks doll!!

 

[Slacking]

I haven't read that thread, but why would it not be safe?

Not safe in what way? Falling out? Simple physics will not fail, I'm pretty sure of that, lol.

Geez........

Awesome Damo!! I'm on my way to PBH later today, but I'm sure I'll get a view of like a broom closet, since my friend made the reservations on Thurs. night, lol.

 

[AlexandNessa]

ugh, double post. sorry

 

[AlexandNessa]

OMG! Did you flash them or something? I want to be platinum too! I am so jealous.

That is exactly what I was wondering! That is quite the double upgrade! Congratulations and have a GREAT time!

P.S. THAT would never happen at Disney!

 

[yaytezIOA]

How on earth did you get the upgrades??

 

[tlinus]

damo...on your travels, IF you ride Dudley, can you take a pic of the seat before you get in?? There is someone (actually a 2 page thread now) wondering if it's "safe" for her DD9....there seems to be some confusion/discussion over what the seats look like (bench vs. individual...and how MANY individual.....) Thanks doll!!

just verified with dd#1....they are individual seats with metal rails and a spot to brace your feet!! She rides that all the time and we were jus there in October. The only dangerous thing that has happened to her and DH on that ride is he lost his stinking hat .....it was a Fenway park visor from one trip to Boston we made, oh, and DD#2 shot them with a water cannon from the bridge

 

[tlinus]

That is exactly what I was wondering! That is quite the double upgrade! Congratulations and have a GREAT time!

P.S. THAT would never happen at Disney!

 

[bubba's mom]

P.S. THAT would never happen at Disney!

absolutely.....

 

[rpbert1]

Thats awesome news Damo, Make the trip even better [if thats possible]

 

[damo]

Okay. More news. We went to the parks today and left our bags in the room because the porter was to switch them to our villa suite today. At 4:30, I go to the front desk to get the new keys and they ask whose name to put on the double queen bedroom, so I give them mine and my sister's names. Then they ask whose names to put on the parlor and I give them my daughter and boyfriend's names. THEN THEY ASK WHO TO PUT ON THE KING BEDROOM!!!!! We got triply upgraded. So the room has a deluxe double queen bedroom, a deluxe double king bedroom, a parlor with a humongous couch, television and dining room and a third bathroom with a shower.

I can't stop giggling. My daughter and her boyfriend are really starting to wonder what the heck I did to get these upgrades and my sister is taking all the credit!

When we checked in yesterday, we had no idea that we would be getting these. When I was talking to the checkin girl she picked up the phone and called someone and said Damo (well not really) is here and then hung up. I wondered what was going to happen next. She goes in the back and brings me out a sealed envelope with my name on it. Then she gives us all my stuff and we head up to the room. When I opened the envelope it contained a hand-written note from the administrate assistant to the general manager saying that there wasn't a villa suite ready until Saturday (today) and that we would be getting complimentary club.

I love the GM. We worked hard for this upgrade but I honestly thought that if we were lucky we would just get a villa suite. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine a two bedroom villa suite with club. This is truly a wonderful vacation.

Dinner at club tonight is a wonderful pasta salad, a selection of chilled veggies and cold cuts and cheeses and these yummy chicken skewers. Breakfast was good with pastries and fruit.

I love Portofino!!!!!

Talk to guys later. I took pics last night of the Portofino suite and I'll start taking some of our villa suite now. I've been taking lots of obscure pictures in the parks. I hope I remember what they are!!!

The wind was a little cool today but I think it was still over 70 degrees. We are off to Mardi Gras tonight. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 80 degrees so hopefully we will do the water rides!

 

[goofy!]

Isn't that Villa Suite WONDERFUL!!!

Last two times our upgrade has been to the Villa Suite - Thanks Brian!!

Which one did you get?

Post pics - I want to live vicariously through you.

It would also be fun to compare to the pics I posted of our Villa Suite in November.

Have a GREAT time!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Wow! Awesome upgrades! How are you finding the Portifino compared to the other onsite hotels? Is the walk or boat ride a pain in the butt? Have you eaten at any hotel restaurants? Hope the weather and upgrades continue for my trip!!!

 

[damo]

Wow! Awesome upgrades! How are you finding the Portifino compared to the other onsite hotels? Is the walk or boat ride a pain in the butt? Have you eaten at any hotel restaurants? Hope the weather and upgrades continue for my trip!!!

We've walked most of the time. It takes us just about 10 minutes which is not bad at all. I love this hotel. I had a wonderfully cozy feel to it. Our villa overlooks the boat so we can also keep an eye on when it is there. Coming back from the concert last night, the boat line was huge so we walked. It was really nice walking back at night. The crowds were so huge at Unversal last night for Mardi Gras. The concert was fun but with the throngs of people, the concert was just like watching him on tv.

We ate yesterday at Margaritaville for lunch. We had the volcano nacho platter and the quesadillas (sp?) The ques. for $7.99 would be a great lunch for two people. We didn't finish all the nachos.

We've been having a big lunch and then eating here in club at dinner. It has been great and it really leaving us lots of money for shopping.

We are heading to IOA today to do the water rides and then going to the mall at millenia to do some shopping therapy. I am taking lots of pictures but can't post them til I get home. The weather is supposed to suck tomorrow for the P&P party. I hope they are wrong!!!

TTYL!!!